NEW YORK (NBA) - Team USA duo Dwyane Wade and Elton Brand both had big nights to help their respective sides, the Miami Heat and LA Clippers, pick up victories in the latest round of play-off matches.
Brand, who like Wade has been included in Team USA's 23-man provisional squad for this year's FIBA World Championship in Japan, had 30 points, nine rebounds and eight assists as the Clippers levelled their Western Conference semi-final series at 2-2 with a 114-107 victory over the Phoenix Suns.
Wade, who played for his country at the 2004 Athens Olympics, was similarly impressive in his match, scoring 31 points to help the Heat defeat the New Jersey Nets 102-92 to open a commanding 3-1 lead in their Eastern Conference semi-final series.
Antoine Walker and Udonis Haslem both contributed 20 points in the win while Shaquille O'Neal added 16 for the second-seeded Heat - who won both contests at Continental Airlines Arena this weekend and now have the luxury of two more home games.
It was a disappointing loss for the third-seeded Nets, who were done in by 43% (36 of 84) shooting, including four of 20 from the arc.
They had won three of four from the Heat during the season and stole the opener on the road but have now dropped three in a row and wasted a triple-double by Jason Kidd in this game.
Vince Carter scored 26 points on 12 of 28 shooting and Richard Jefferson added 17 for New Jersey, while Kidd had 17 points, 13 rebounds and 12 assists.
Super Sam
In Los Angeles, Brand received great support from veteran guard Sam Cassell, who ignored an early sprained ankle to sink a clutch three-pointer in the final minute to help the Clippers to victory.
Cassell finished with 28 points, 11 rebounds and nine assists for the sixth-seeded Clippers, who never trailed after the first quarter and fought off a frantic rally by the second-seeded Suns, who reverted to their run-and-gun ways.
Following a 94-91 loss in Game Three, Clippers coach Mike Dunleavy made changes at two spots.
He inserted Serbia & Montenegro forward Vladimir Radmanovic for injured center Chris Kaman (shoulder) and swingman Corey Maggette for defensive forward Quinton Ross.
And both moves paid dividends as Radmanovic scored 13 points and Maggette contributed 18 and 15 rebounds while forcing Suns superstar guard Steve Nash to play defence.
Nash, the NBA MVP, was relatively quiet for the third straight game with eight points and 11 assists, while Tim Thomas and Team USA's Shawn Marion combined for 51 points and 33 rebounds in Game Three but just 27 and 16 on Sunday.
PA Sport